Fitness & Nutrition
Supporting Women’s Health and Wellness in the Greater Cleveland Area
At Southwest General, we are committed to helping women of all ages in our community lead healthier lives with our health and wellness programs. Our women’s fitness and nutrition services include education, programs and facilities in Greater Cleveland. Proper fitness and nutrition significantly improve quality of life and results in better overall health.
Health and Wellness through Exercise
At Southwest General, we believe that regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health and wellness and should include:
- Cardiovascular exercise to strengthen your heart.
- Strength training exercise (using resistance) to build and maintain lean body mass, improve flexibility, maintain and improve both bone health and heart health and for weight control.
Exercise Guidelines
Before starting any exercise program be sure to check with your health care provider to make sure your workout routine is safe and effective.
Women who exercise should do so at least three to five times a week for 20 to 60 minutes at a time. Your exercise routine should include activity that involves large muscle groups and increases your heart rate (for example walking, running, cycling, or swimming) as well as strength training and flexibility exercises. When you have selected your routine, keep the following recommendations in mind to avoid injury:
- Always do both warm-up and cool-down exercises for at least three to five minutes to prepare your body for the exercise. Warm-up and cool-down exercises can be light activities like slow walking or stretching.
- Never "work through the pain" when exercising. Doing so may result in injury.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
- Wear appropriate clothing. If exercising indoors or on a hot day, be sure to wear cool clothing. If exercising outside in cool weather, be sure that your head, hands and feet are kept warm.
LifeWorks of Southwest General
Southwest General offers a variety of fitness programs for women in Greater Cleveland at its LifeWorks facility located at 7390 Old Oak Blvd., Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130. This premier health and fitness facility features a comfortable atmosphere and a professional staff to help members achieve their health and wellness goals. Membership includes six appointments with an exercise specialist and a personal trainer as well as more than 100 weekly group exercise classes. For more information, call 440-816-4210.
Nutrition for Health and Wellness
A healthy and nutritious diet is important in maintaining overall health, controlling weight, improving fitness and reducing the potential for developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even cancer.
A Healthy Diet
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are jointly issued and updated every five years by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These guidelines provide authoritative advice for Americans about:
- Consuming fewer calories
- Making informed food choices
- Being physically active to attain and maintain a healthy weight
- Reducing risk of chronic disease
- Promoting overall health
Additionally, these guidelines describe a healthy diet as one that:
- Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
- Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts
- Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars
Individuals with a chronic health condition should consult with a health care provider to determine what dietary guidelines are appropriate for them to help them:
- Make smart choices from every food group
- Find balance between food and physical activity
- Get the most nutrition out of calories
- Stay within daily calorie needs
